Cricket: Sri Lanka take charge in Colombo

Delaying the inevitable already seems the best New Zealand can hope for when Sri Lanka toy with a declaration when the second cricket test resumes at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground today.

With two day's play remaining on a pitch becoming more useful to Sri Lanka's daunting spin attack by the hour, New Zealand's chances of avoiding a 0-2 series loss probably hinge on three factors.

Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara, his predecessor Mahela Jayawardene and the prolific Thilan Samaraweera must be dismissed as soon as possible; New Zealand's batting line-up then needs to improve dramatically on a wearing pitch or the rain that quelled the home side's progress late yesterday must return in bucket loads.

Almost 12 overs were lost when an afternoon deluge prompted an early close, though not before Sri Lanka had extended their original 182-run advantage to 339 and counting.

Sri Lanka resume on 157 for two, Sangakkara well-established on 64 and Jayawardene on 23; century-making machine Samaraweera is padded up.

Sangakkara has the luxury of concentrating on the completion of his first hundred of the series before setting New Zealand a notional fourth inning's run chase, similar to the 413-run assignment they flunked in Galle last week.

Ross Taylor - his 81 was the only substantial knock of New Zealand's paltry first innings of 234 - made no attempt to sugarcoat the team's predicament.

While New Zealand were trying to stay positive, defensive bowling strategies and field settings would initially be the order of the day.

"Hopefully we can delay them as long as possible, keep them out in the middle .... delay whatever target they set us so we don't have to bat for 4-1/2 sessions," he said.

Sri Lanka will probably bat on to lunch, possibly longer. Either way Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath will have ample time to torment New Zealand's fragile batting order a second time.

Test cricket's leading wicket taker and the little-known left-arm orthodox spinner took three scalps apiece as New Zealand's batsmen failed to take the initiative.

Between them the duo delivered 59.4 overs and conceded an average of just 2.34 run per over, illustrating New Zealand's unwillingness or inability to force the pace.

Taylor said his colleagues needed to be a touch more proactive when they bat time to save the match.

"Their spinners are outstanding bowlers but we have to come up with a way or staying out there and combating them," he said.

"We have to be positive and rotate the strike. If we go out there and try to dead bat there are going to be balls that are just going to get us out."

Staying crease bound played into Sri Lanka's hands as they were able to crowd the batsmen with close in fielders - seven New Zealander's were caught at or near the wicket in the first innings.

"If we can be positive and not have has as many people around the bat, it gives us more of a chance," Taylor said.

"When you have to face 30 to 36 balls with them all round you it takes its toll."

Taylor admitted adopting a more aggressive mind set was easier said than done.

"I felt OK against the spinners but in the back of your mind you're thinking one ball does probably have your number, you're just hoping to try and delay that as long as possible."

Meanwhile, Herath understated the obvious when declaring: "I feel we are in a good position at the moment, if we score 400-plus we have a chance to win."

Herath, who took 15 wickets against Pakistan last month when deputising for an injured Muralitharan, felt the New Zealand batsmen would continue to battle once the target was set.

"Murali and myself, we both bowled really well so they are struggling."

A league standard cricketer in England, Herath was rushed home to play the Pakistanis when Muralitharan cried off with a knee injury and was considered unlucky to miss out to Ajantha Mendis in Galle.

He has played one previous test against New Zealand, taking three for 120 at Napier in 2005.

Herath's three for 70 from 34 overs should concern the New Zealand camp as the batsmen face plenty of left arm spin from Vettori in the nets.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka
First innings 416

New Zealand
First innings

T McIntosh lbw b Prasad 5
M Guptill c Muralitharan b Thushara 35
D Flynn c P Jayawardene b Thushara 13
R Taylor c P Jayawardene b Herath 81
J Ryder c Paranavitana b Herath 23
J Patel c M Jayawardene b Muralitharan 1
B McCullum c M Jayawardene b Muralitharan 18
J Oram c Kapugedera b Herath 24
D Vettori c Kapugedera b Dilshan 23
I O'Brien lbw b Muralitharan 4
C Martin not out 0

Extras (3lb 2nb 2w) 7

Total (all out, 77.4 overs) 234

Fall: 14 (McIntosh), 49 (Flynn), 63 (Guptill), 148 (Ryder), 149 (Patel), 183 (McCullum), 183 (Taylor), 226 (Vettori), 234 (Oram), 234 (O'Brien)

Bowling: T Dilshan 3-0-12-0, T Thushara 9-2-37-2 (1w 2nb), D Prasad 6-0-41-1 (1w), R Herath 34-11-70-3, M Muralitharan 25.4-2-71-3.

Sri Lanka
Second innings

T Dilshan c Guptill b Patel 33
T Paranavitana c McCullum b Vettori 34
K Sangakkara not out 64
M Jayawardene not out 23

Extras (1w 2nb) 3

Total (for 2 wkts, 45.2 overs) 157

Fall: 56 (Dilshan), 89 (Paranavitana)

Bowling: D Vettori 14-2-36-1, I O'Brien 8-1-41-0 (1w 2nb), C Martin 5-0-13-0, J Patel 18.2-2-67-1.

- NZPA